This and That in August 2023, Part 2!

Zeus is wondering what else happened in August?

Emma started as an aide in the Kindergarten class:

Jeff and Suzie posing in front of the world's largest Czech egg in Wilson, Kansas.

It is 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide!

The world's largest ball of twine is in Cawker City, Kansas.

It 8.06 feet in diameter, weighs 17,320 pounds and has 7,938,709 feet of sisal twine.

First day of school 2023 -2024 for Sara...

first day of 6th grade for Bethany...

first day of 7th grade for Aubrey.

Brian and MaryAnn celebrated their 19th anniversary on the 19th!

On the 17th they joined Grandpa and I for sealings in the Sacramento temple.

The former 2nd Counselor in the temple presidency passed away and we attended the services.

We served with him from November 2018 to August 2021.

More Caleb cuteness!

Feather River Temple Open House.

It was a self-guided tour.  Loved it!!

There are mature olive trees planted in each corner of the property.

(Olive production is big in the area)

It looked like the Garden of Gethsemane.

Nathaniel was well suited one Sunday--he is wearing all of the suit coats in the family!

Melanchuks came for baptisms at the temple and stayed for lunch.

It was very bright and sunny just like these great kids!

More brightness from Elizabeth on her mission.

She got to go to the temple with some new converts,

and went to the Ocmulgee Mounds with her district on p-day.

Camille got new glasses!

More painting from Sarah!

Kathryn and Hannah saying goodbye until they meet up at BYU!

Farewell Sunday dinner for Hannah!

Another backpacking trip... and this time Bethany joined her Dad and Aubrey!

The entire Melanchuk family helped at the Feather River Temple Open House on August 26th.   Amelia and Darryl were at the front door.

Kathryn was in an Instruction room, front door and Welcome Center.

Amanda was also in an Instruction room and at shoe coverings.

Daniel did front door and shoe coverings.

And even though he was only 10,  Nathaniel got to do shoe coverings as they were in need of more helpers.

Michael was so busy with his facilities assignments they didn't get a picture.

What a great day for their family!

The BYU girls met up:

Bethany celebrated her 11th birthday.  It was fun to talk to her on Face Time!

 

Outing #8: Calaveras Big Trees!

I had fun celebrating my birthday at Calaveras Big Trees!

We rented this cabin in the woods very near the park entrance.

I got to have a yummy birthday dinner eating outside at an Italian restaurant with trees all around.

One night we went to the Scenic Overlook for an astronomy program.

They are getting fancier...

...with a lecture through computer before it got dark.

We could see Saturn and eventually several constellations but the moon was just too bright

Another day we spent an afternoon at Beaver Creek.  

We were the only people there most of the time.

One day we decided to divide and conquer.

Grandpa went on a guided hike of the South Grove. 

It took 3 1/2 hours with the guide named Dan!

There are about 100 redwoods in the North Grove, but over 1,000 in the South Grove.

Dan took some pictures of Grandpa:

He learned a lot and was able to share it with me.

For instance that pile of white stuff is dropped one tiny piece at a time by one ant.

They climb into the tree and basically hollow it out to build ant nests.

Grandpa saw them climbing in and he could even see individual ants dropping little specks of sawdust.

The striations on this bark were made by bears

looking for ants to eat.

Meanwhile I was doing my own hiking including a trip to 

Big Trees Market for some essentials!

And then a walk through the North Grove.

Top of the tree:

Bottom of the tree:

I just took in all of the beauty!

As you can see there were not many people there, but I did come across at least two groups who had never seen the redwoods before.  It was fun hearing them exclaim and be astonished!

My favorite bench:

A couple of new things.  

They have placed this cut out of the stump from the fallen 

Pioneer Cabin tree near the North Grove.

Our family walked through it many times but it fell in 2017.

This was an interesting explanation that includes a ring from 899 AD and an injury in 

1529 AD.  The tree was estimated to be 1,233 years old when it fell.

And there were a lot of workers from Cal Fire making sure the trees are ready

 in case of wildfires.

Birthdays can be fun even when you are getting older!